Skating (Speed/edges/technique/etc)Efficient skater, has very strong strides which allow him to build up speed. Coupled with impressive acceleration makes his size that much more dangerous. Skates a very straight north/south game through the neutral zone. Long legs allow him to cover distance quickly so it seems he’s always on top of the opposition with the puck. Has a wide pivot. Brown doesn’t slow down, he approaches every shift at a high gear that indicates excellent conditioning.
Grade: 55

Shooting (Slap/wrist/backhand, General strength, proclivities, etc)Deadly accurate wrist shot, has the patience to wait out defenders to select the right moment to release. Deceptive ability to motion to a teammate, look directly at them, and pick a corner of the net at the same time. Gets full use of his long stick on his slap shot, has NHL ready velocity, but needs to work on accuracy. Finds his way into the shooting zones with ease, but will often defer to his linemates to make a play. Needs to work on not looking for the perfect opportunity, and simply getting pucks on net. Averages about 2 shots a game.
Grade: 60

Puck SkillsVery confident with the puck on his stick resulting in a take charge approach to exciting and entering the zone. Launches the puck with authority, very hard passes that land on the tape. Brown can saucer a pass very well in the offensive zone, which he pulls out on the power play when working the half-wall. Very soft touch for such a large frame.
Grade: 55

Smarts (vision, defensive play, ability to stick in system, etc.)Brown takes stock of his surroundings very quickly. He seems to calculate distance very well, allowing him read the play quickly and find open space in all three zones. Defensively, he uses his size to his advantage, neutralizing most battles by easily separating the attacker from the puck. He is an asset to his defenders, he is the defensive conscience of Windsor’s top line, first to come back and support the defense, resulting in a quick transition to the attack.
Grade: 60

PhysicalityBrown would already standout in an NHL roster for his size. He currently lacks a killer instinct, he doesn’t run around trying to impose his physical gifts on the opposition. He simply uses his size to his advantage to out battle the opposition in all three zones. His reach and huge frame allow him to win puck battles with ease. Rarely the first man to rush in on the fore-check, Brown plays a dangerous open ice game, and will catch any rushing forward with their head down.
Grade: 60

General AssessmentBrown has a complete NHL toolkit at his disposal. His offensive instincts are dangerous, he is probably the most physically gifted OHL player that will be selected in the first round. He opts to use his line mates before looking to make an individual play. Coaches will challenge him to increase his intensity, and to be a bit greedier. While he’s not a perimeter player, he needs to work on getting to the dangerous shooting zones and directing the puck on net faster.Overall Future Projection: 57.8

Skating (Speed/edges/technique/etc)Very solid on his feet, very difficult to knock off balance. Surprisingly fast when skating backwards, making it very difficult for a rushing forward to find space around him. Doesn’t over exert himself, doesn’t look to get into a footrace. Will look for a clean pass before skating the puck out of dangerous areas.
Grade: 50

Shooting (Slap/wrist/backhand, General strength, proclivities, etc)Plays the point on the power play where he is counted on to release his rocket of a slap shot. Doesn’t have the fastest windup but he absolutely cranks it when he is given the chance. Very hard and on target, possesses the type of shot that gives opposition pause when going in for the block. Less inclined to send a snap or wrist shot towards the net.
Grade: 55

Puck SkillsMakes effective passes, typically up the boards instead of open ice. Tends to lose the puck between his feet when he is in his end and the opposition is on the fore-check. Displays a bit of difficulty handling the puck on the blue line beside the boards, bobbles the puck several times throughout the game resulting in offsides. Will benefit from cleaning up his stickhandling this offseason.
Grade: 50

Smarts (vision, defensive play, ability to stick in system, etc.)Plays his angles very well, capitalizing on his wide frame and long reach. Anticipates which direction the attacking forward will go, and uses his active stick to minimize most rushes. Almost impossible to be beaten wide, he will take away space in a heartbeat and drive opposition into the boards. Forwards struggle to get anywhere near the slot when he is defending, and come up empty handed when battling for positioning against him. Uses his strength to win stick battles and shut down any tap plays. Very alert when reading the play, doesn’t lose his coverage easily.
Grade: 60

PhysicalityVastly above average size, and a willingness to engage in battles in the corner. Huge wingspan coupled with upper body strength that few OHL players possess at this point, that he uses to guide the attack into the boards to rub them out. Incredibly difficult for the fore-checkers to handle, players will bounce off him and he maintains puck possession. Stanley doesn’t go out of his way to punish players with his size, just effectively minimizes opposition.
Grade: 70

General AssessmentLogan Stanley has the potential to be a very solid shutdown defender in at the next level. He is a nightmare for forwards to play against as he is a rock in the defensive zone that doesn’t give up an inch. He needs to work on his decision making skills; while he doesn’t make many defensive lapses with the puck, he is slow to react on the transition. The speed of the higher levels will likely take time for him to adjust to. If he is able to adapt to the speed of the game as he continues, he’ll be a very dangerous piece on any team.

Skating (Speed/edges/technique/etc)Very strong technical skater, very smooth stride when he’s following the play. Good sidestep and agility give him very graceful crossovers, both forwards and backwards. Very tight turns in the corners allow him to glance away from the forecheck artfully. Difficult to gauge his top speed relative to the competition, Windsor plays a strong system that doesn’t result in a lot of giveaways resulting in footraces for defenders. Without a doubt he is one of the best skaters that the OHL has to offer in the draft this June.
Grade: 65

Shooting (Slap/wrist/backhand, General strength, proclivities, etc)Sergachev has the ability to direct the puck on net without a large margin of error. Has a very hard release that he can get off very quickly. Sergachev quarterbacks the power play, and when the lane is available he opts for the shot. Has a great wrist shot from the point that is primed for tipping opportunities, and as he is very aware of potential forwards coming in for the block, he manages to side step then release easily.
Grade: 60

Puck SkillsPossesses strong stickhandling skills. Cradles the puck well, resulting in very calm movements. Consistently surprises attacking forwards with some shifty dekes that allow him to create space, all while keeping the puck very flat on the ice. Really shows off his ability on the power play, where he controls the unit from the top of the umbrella. He’ll dish the puck, receive and redirect passes with a high degree of accuracy which truly stifles the opposition’s penalty kill. He has the keep-away skills that frustrate and tire out defenders.
Grade: 60

Smarts (vision, defensive play, ability to stick in system, etc.)Has a very active stick in the defensive end, excellent at batting away pucks with one hand on the stick. Plays his angles very well to keep the rush to the outside, doesn’t give up the slot without a battle. Very difficult to beat one-on-one, has excellent anticipation skills, keeps square to the rush and reads the opponents body language well. Has an excellent outlet pass from deep in the defensive zone, really kick-starts the transition.
Grade: 60

PhysicalityNot overly physical, but can take a hit. Sergachev won’t lose his positioning by looking for the big hit. Handles himself in the corners, really knows how to use the boards to absorb a hit and minimize damage. He isn’t afraid to take a hit to make a play, but he does a great job avoiding oncoming forecheckers. Plays a disciplined game with his body, but takes the occasional stick infraction in the defensive zone.
Grade: 55

General AssessmentSergachev is a high end talent that doesn’t possess many flaws. He plays a very calm game from the point, rarely does he display frustration. He’ll need to work on upping his intensity, at times he looks disinterested. He plays a very safe game where he doesn’t push to pinch often. This could be a result of Windsor collectively having a very strong defensive system, but at times makes him look a bit lazy, allowing the puck to come to him. Has a complete package to make him a top pairing two-way defender who will contribute to improving any team’s possession stats.

Skating (Speed/edges/technique/etc)Smith makes quick, wide strides giving him explosive acceleration. He has a motor on him that keeps him constantly moving his feet, except for when he’s on the powerplay. He’ll plant himself in front of the crease and he’ll dig deep into the ice. It is very obvious he has a lot of power in his legs. He needs to develop his straight away speed and find that next gear to really stay competitive as a top six forward at the next level.
Grade: 50

Shooting (Slap/wrist/backhand, General strength, proclivities, etc)One of his assets is he’s willing to launch anything on net, doesn’t wait too long to calm the puck down. Smith gets most of his shots off in tight as he tends to position himself within 10 feet of the net as often as he can. He’s not going to be renowned for scoring the prettiest goals, but he’ll put every effort in to make sure that the puck is headed in the right direction.
Grade: 45

Puck SkillsWhat he lacks in the shooting department, Smith makes up for in hand-eye contact. He must spend a lot of time practicing tipping pucks in front of the goalie, as he has a very active stick that he makes redirecting look easy. He is an average passer, who will push the puck in the right direction without always connecting the dots. Smith will opt to rush the puck into the play rather than to dish it to his line mates.
Grade: 50

Smarts (vision, defensive play, ability to stick in system, etc.)Smith is the victim of being a good hockey player on a weak team. To make up for their deficiencies in talent, Guelph plays a very simple game that leans on dumping the puck in deep, recovering the puck, and working it to the net as quickly as possible. Smith is the prototype winger for this system, as he’ll burst into the corners, win puck battles handily, and chip it to his supporting forward. He is the type of winger that defenders always know when he’s on the ice because he’ll make them pay in the corners. In his own zone, he is a bit of a liability as he’s usually thinking of rushing out of the end and getting on the attack. He’s always looking for the advancing pass, and will lose his man if the opposition begins to work their cycle.

He’s also developed a penchant for lacking discipline and taking aggressive penalties in poor situations that have contributed to deflating his team’s momentum. Whether this is a result of playing for a team so accustom to losing, or it is a contributing factor remains to be seen, but may lead teams to pause on selecting him.
Grade: 50

PhysicalityWhile Smith possesses average NHL size, he plays like he’s a 6’3”, 206lb wrecking ball. He’ll read plays to see where the player will have the puck, and look to make the big hit before concerning himself with the aftermath. He comes out of nowhere like a bullet, and thanks to his powerful lower body, he’ll blow up on impact. Smith is likeliest the hardest hitter in the OHL draft class. His inclination for always following through on the forecheck sometimes puts him out of position when he’s needed on the back-check. Again, he’s prone to making poor decisions with his aggression, and is watched by the referees for any possible dangerous plays or interference hits. He has a low center of gravity, which he uses to park himself in front of goalies to set up an effective screen on the power play. He is very difficult to neutralize when he’s in his office.
Grade: 70

General AssessmentSmith will make his living by keeping his nose to the grind, agitating and by capitalizing on rebounds in front of the net. Incredibly difficult to contain at this level, he’ll need to display the ability to adapt to larger, heavier defenders at the next level. Not afraid to drop the gloves, he currently has five fighting majors, and a lot of roughing penalties for mucking it up after the play. Smith will consistently have his glove shoved in his opponents face, he’ll do anything to get someone off their game, and he’ll do it early. Prone to taking penalties at inopportune times, teams will love his aggression, but he’ll drive coaches mad early in his career. Definitely needs to mature and learn to select his opportunities so it is the other team’s coach who is fuming.

Skating (Speed/edges/technique/etc)Smooth backwards stride, very active along the blueline with very fluid crossovers. Currently lacks the power to blow away forwards in a foot race, struggles to match the oncoming rush while skating backwards. Needs to get a head start by skating forwards, and can be beaten while transitioning on his pivot. Attribute this to his late start as a defender, switched to the position at 15.
Grade: 50

Shooting (Slap/wrist/backhand, General strength, proclivities, etc)Carroll looks for the pass before he’ll find a lane to shoot. He gets average velocity behind his slap shot, although he’ll send a wrist shot through the lane as his first option. He’s good at keeping the puck low, which works in favour of the team’s system, which looks to clog the front of the net.
Grade: 50

Puck SkillsCarroll has decent control when the puck is on his stick, but he has been a culprit of losing focus and mishandling the puck at times. He has a solid first pass, and makes quick decisions with the puck. Makes safe plays with puck management and distribution.
Grade: 50

Smarts (vision, defensive play, ability to stick in system, etc.)Carroll has a ghastly plus/minus, but he’s a victim of playing top line minutes on a deficient team defensively. There are a lot of sophomore players on the blueline without much veteran leadership from the backend, and it has definitely been trial by fire for the blueliner. He keeps his head on a swivel, but he struggles tracking his man. He’s in over his head currently, and should be receiving second paring minutes and opposition.
Grade: 45

PhysicalityCarroll is a willing combatant along the boards and can catch players on the rush in open ice if they are not paying attention. Solid balance, he is still rather lanky, and will need to bulk up during the offseason. Along with losing his man in his own end, he struggles battling for positioning in front of the net. In no regard does he shy away from contact, but if he is to be successful in playing this role, he’ll need to develop how he uses his body.
Grade: 55

General Assessment
Looking at the big picture, Carroll is difficult to assess given he has the worst plus/minus of all draft (-44) eligible OHL defencemen. Given that the team has a hideous even strength goal differential of -106, there is some wiggle room to accept he may be a victim of a weak defensive system. Carroll needs to carve himself a niche this next season, he currently fits the mold of a two-way defender, but the offense is missing. Averaging about one shot per game, he has two tasks for the summer: work on his shot release, and spend time in the gym bulking up to ensure success at the next level.Overall Future Projection – 49.25

Skating (Speed/edges/technique/etc)Very solid centre of gravity and balance, Mieritz has a very strong lower body. He accelerates quickly and has calm feet. He has quick crossovers, but average backwards strides and average speed going forwards.
Grade: 50

Shooting (Slap/wrist/backhand, General strength, proclivities, etc)Mieritz has a solid shot, but lacks control, often sending it too high or wide. Has the type of shot that you know is powerful based on how loud it hits the boards behind the net instead of finding the target. Has a tendency to send the puck right into the shins of the defending forwards. Seems rushed when he has the puck on his stick, needs to find calm in his game to pick better shooting opportunities.
Grade: 50

Puck SkillsVery calm in his own end with the puck on his stick. Has a very hard pass and can transition the puck well to his partner. Contains the puck well at the blue line and is capable of keeping the puck in the zone. Needs to ensure that he can keep that same calm with his puck handling in all three zones, it looks at times as though he’s playing hot-potato with the puck.
Grade: 50

Smarts (vision, defensive play, ability to stick in system, etc.)Recovers the puck in the corners well, but has struggled to find avenues to distribute the puck aside from up the boards. Doesn’t look for options, or try to carry it up the ice. Struggled at transitioning his game to the smaller North American rinks, and judging the pace of the play. Needs to work on closing gaps, and tracking the forwards as they come in on the rush. Has a much more manageable plus/minus compared to his team, but has seen limited ice time this season as a third pairing defender.
Grade: 45

PhysicalityMieritz is solid and battles all over the ice. He doesn’t give up on the play, and will punish players with his strength, relentlessly pushing players off the puck in the corners and in front of the net. Utilizes his body before attacking with his stick.
Grade: 50

General AssessmentMieritz struggled to earn minutes on a young defensive core in Hamilton, and following an effective World Junior tournament, found himself in a permanent third pairing position in Guelph. Teams will like his effort, but at the completion of his first season, he will need to start showing progress and growth in his confidence. He has indicated he would like to stay in North America, and given Guelph’s poor play this season, they’ll likely keep him on for at least the fall to see if he develops that comfort and confidence.Overall Future Projection – 48.5